During the outbreak that began in 2014, public discussions about whether Ebola could be transmitted through the air were largely centered on variations of two questions: (1) Is Ebola airborne, like the flu and measles? (2) If Ebola was not airborne in previous outbreaks, has it evolved to become airborne now?

The answer to both questions is something close to no. And it was almost entirely on these terms that concerns about transmission of Ebola through the air were raised and dismissed by the public health leadership and journalists alike.